Medical Examinations and Chest X-rays for New Zealand Student Visas (2026)

## Quick Facts What you need to know about medical requirements for a New Zealand student visa in 2026: 1. Whether you need a medical examination and chest X-ray depends on three factors: your country of citizenship, how long you intend to stay, and whether you come from a country with a high incidence of tuberculosis. 2. Medical examinations must be performed by a doctor on Immigration New Zealand's approved panel of physicians for your country. A certificate from any other doctor will not be accepted. 3. A chest X-ray is required if you are staying in New Zealand for more than six months and you are from a country not on the INZ low-TB list, or if you have spent more than three months in the last five years in a non-low-TB country. 4. The cost of a medical examination and chest X-ray at an approved panel clinic varies by country but typically ranges from NZD $200 to $600 combined. This cost is not part of the visa application fee — it is paid directly to the clinic. 5. Medical certificates are valid for 36 months from the date of examination. If you applied for a previous New Zealand visa and your medical is still valid, you do not need to repeat it for your student visa. 6. INZ medical assessors evaluate your health against the acceptable standard of health, which primarily considers whether you are likely to impose significant costs on New Zealand's health system or be a danger to public health. 7. Conditions such as active tuberculosis, HIV (in some circumstances), and certain chronic conditions requiring expensive treatment can lead to visa refusal unless a medical waiver is granted. ## Who Needs a Medical Examination and Chest X-ray? Not every student visa applicant is required to undergo a full medical examination. The requirement is determined by Immigration New Zealand based on specific criteria: 1. Length of stay. If you intend to stay in New Zealand for more than 12 months, a General Medical Certificate (INZ 1007) is typically required regardless of your country of origin. For stays of 6 to 12 months, a chest X-ray certificate (INZ 1096) may be required depending on your country's TB risk classification. 2. Country of citizenship. Immigration New Zealand maintains a list of countries with a low incidence of tuberculosis. If you are a citizen of a low-TB country and have not spent significant time in a high-TB country, you may be exempt from the chest X-ray requirement for stays under 12 months. As of 2026, low-TB countries include the United States, Canada, the United Kingdom, Australia, most Western European nations, and Japan, among others. Check the current list on immigration.govt.nz — it is updated periodically. 3. Time spent in high-risk countries. Even if you hold citizenship of a low-TB country, if you have spent more than three months cumulatively in the last five years in a country not on the low-TB list, you will be required to provide a chest X-ray certificate. 4. Special circumstances. If you are applying for a student visa that involves working with children, in healthcare settings, or in other high-risk environments, you may be required to undergo additional medical testing regardless of your country of origin or length of stay. If you are unsure whether you need a medical, use the self-assessment tool on immigration.govt.nz or consult the instructions for your country. When in doubt, it is better to complete the medical — submitting it with your application avoids delays from an INZ request for further information. ## Approved Panel Physicians: How to Find One Immigration New Zealand maintains a network of approved panel physicians, radiologists, and clinics in most countries. You cannot have the medical examination done by your family doctor or any doctor not on the panel — the certificate will not be accepted. To find an approved panel physician: 1. Visit immigration.govt.nz and navigate to the health requirements section for your country. INZ publishes a list of approved clinics with addresses, contact details, and languages spoken. 2. Some countries have multiple approved clinics across different cities. Choose one convenient to you, but book well in advance — panel physicians often have multi-week waiting lists, especially during peak student visa seasons. 3. Confirm with the clinic when you book that they perform immigration medicals for New Zealand. Some clinics are approved for multiple countries (Australia, Canada, UK), but the requirements differ. You need the specific New Zealand forms: General Medical Certificate (INZ 1007) and Chest X-ray Certificate (INZ 1096). 4. The clinic will typically handle the submission of your medical results to INZ electronically through the eMedical system. You may be given a copy for your records, but you generally do not need to upload the results yourself. The clinic will provide you with a referral or tracking number to include in your visa application. 5. In some countries, you may need to see the panel physician and go to a separate approved radiologist for the chest X-ray. The clinic will advise you on the process in your country. ## What the Medical Examination Covers The General Medical Certificate (INZ 1007) involves: 1. A thorough medical history questionnaire covering past illnesses, surgeries, hospitalisations, and ongoing conditions. 2. A full physical examination including height, weight, blood pressure, vision, and general physical assessment. 3. Blood tests for certain conditions depending on your age, country of origin, and risk factors. These may include tests for HIV, hepatitis B, hepatitis C, and syphilis. INZ advises panel physicians on which blood tests are required for applicants from different countries. 4. Urinalysis to screen for diabetes and kidney function indicators. 5. The examining doctor completes the INZ 1007 form and submits it electronically. The Chest X-ray Certificate (INZ 1096) involves: 1. A standard posterior-anterior (PA) chest X-ray. The radiologist is looking for evidence of active or past tuberculosis, as well as other lung abnormalities. 2. If the X-ray shows any abnormality, the examining radiologist may request additional views or a CT scan. This is at your cost. 3. Pregnant applicants should inform the radiologist. Chest X-rays are generally not performed during pregnancy, and alternative arrangements (such as a TB screening questionnaire and sputum test) may be made. 4. Children under 11 years of age are generally not required to undergo a chest X-ray unless there are specific clinical reasons. The medical examination is valid for 36 months. If you completed a medical for a previous New Zealand visa application and it is still within its validity period, you can refer to it in your new application rather than repeating the process. ## Medical Conditions That May Affect Your Visa INZ's medical assessors review your medical certificates against the acceptable standard of health. The primary concern is whether you are likely to impose significant costs or demands on New Zealand's health services. Conditions that commonly trigger further assessment include: 1. Active tuberculosis. This is a near-automatic refusal unless treated and resolved. If your chest X-ray shows signs of TB, you will be asked to undergo sputum testing and, if active TB is confirmed, complete a full course of treatment before your visa can be issued. 2. HIV. Applicants with HIV may be assessed as not meeting the acceptable standard of health if the projected lifetime treatment cost exceeds a set threshold. This does not mean automatic refusal — a medical waiver may be available. 3. Chronic kidney disease requiring dialysis or transplant. 4. Severe cardiac conditions requiring surgery or expensive ongoing management. 5. Cancer requiring active treatment during your stay. 6. Severe mental health conditions requiring supported living or intensive community care. 7. Physical or intellectual disabilities requiring high-cost support services. Having one of these conditions does not mean your application will automatically be refused. INZ assesses each case on its facts, considering the specific condition, its severity, the treatment required during your stay, and the projected cost. If the projected cost is below the threshold, you may meet the acceptable standard of health even with a listed condition. ## Medical Waivers If you are assessed as not meeting the acceptable standard of health, you may be eligible for a medical waiver. A medical waiver allows INZ to grant your visa despite the health concern, weighing it against other factors. Factors considered in a medical waiver assessment include: 1. The level and nature of your intended study — higher-level qualifications, particularly those in areas of skill shortage, receive more favourable consideration. 2. Whether your presence in New Zealand would provide a significant contribution to the country — such as bringing rare skills or participating in research of national importance. 3. Your personal circumstances, including any family connections in New Zealand. 4. The actual likely cost of your medical condition during your stay, as distinct from the hypothetical lifetime cost. Medical waivers are not guaranteed and are assessed on a case-by-case basis by a different INZ officer from the one who processed your application. ## FAQ ### Q1: Can I submit a medical examination I did for another country's visa? Generally, no. New Zealand requires its own specific forms (INZ 1007 and INZ 1096), completed by a physician on the INZ panel. Medicals performed for Australian, Canadian, or UK visas use different forms and panels and are not accepted for New Zealand. ### Q2: How long does it take for INZ to process my medical results? Once the panel clinic submits your results through eMedical, INZ typically processes them within 1 to 3 weeks. If the medical assessor requires further information — such as a specialist report for an identified condition — processing can extend to 6 weeks or more. ### Q3: Do I need a medical for a student visa of less than six months? Generally, no — unless you are from a country not on the low-TB list and have spent time in a high-TB country. Stays under six months usually require neither a full medical nor a chest X-ray, but check the specific requirements for your country on immigration.govt.nz. ### Q4: What if I have a common condition like asthma or well-controlled diabetes? Having a condition does not automatically mean you fail the health test. Well-controlled chronic conditions that are unlikely to impose significant costs during your stay generally do not lead to refusal. Provide any relevant specialist reports and treatment summaries with your medical to help the assessor make an informed decision. ## Sources - Immigration New Zealand — Health Requirements: www.immigration.govt.nz/new-zealand-visas/health-requirements - Immigration New Zealand — Panel Physicians: www.immigration.govt.nz/new-zealand-visas/health-requirements/panel-physicians - Immigration New Zealand — Acceptable Standard of Health: www.immigration.govt.nz/opsmanual - Ministry of Health New Zealand: www.health.govt.nz - Education New Zealand — Code of Practice: www.studywithnewzealand.govt.nz